The Government has been developing proposals to increase the current statutory minimum holiday entitlement from four weeks (20 days) to 5.6 weeks (maximum 28 days) per year. Some employers currently include the 8 bank holidays as part of the workers’ 20 day leave entitlement.

The proposals outline how the Government plans to implement its manifesto commitment, to make paid time off for bank holidays additional to the current four-week holiday entitlement. Raising the holiday entitlement to 5.6 weeks, is equivalent to an increase from 20 days to 28 days for someone working a five-day week.

In light of the response to the initial consultation, the Government is now consulting on detailed proposals and draft regulations. It proposes to amend the Working Time Regulations 1998, to increase the statutory entitlement to paid holiday from four weeks to 4.8 weeks from 1 October 2007, and from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks on 1 April 2009, subject to a maximum statutory entitlement of 28 days.

Further details on the proposals and links to the related documents can be found on DTI’s website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/holidays/index.html